Port Vale boss Neil Aspin says the team should be trying to compete for a place in the play-offs next season - although he is under no illusions about how tough that will be.

Aspin is trying to turn around a club that finished this past season in 20th, just one point above the relegation zone.

He says they have to improve on that - and set their sights on the right end of the League Two table.

The manager said: "The whole 24 teams in the division will want to get in the play offs because that is the goal for everyone, you want to be trying to get there. But every manager will feel they have a chance of doing that.

"Certainly we have to look to be doing that, otherwise there is no point in reporting back. We have to aim to do better and it is down to the players."

The Vale manager must reverse two years of decline - Vale finished 12th in League One in 2016 but were relegated the following season before spending most of this past season in a relegation fight in League Two.

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Aspin, who took over in October, said: "Every division is tough. I wasn't sat here at the start of last season but I imagine when you were doing the interviews that Port Vale were expecting to challenge at the top end of the table and not be struggling at the bottom end. So, you all have expectations.

Neil Aspin watches Port Vale's game at Mansfield

"I am very realistic. I know it is a tough league but we have to make sure we do everything we can to make sure we are ready for it and give a good account of ourselves.

"Certainly the key will be what players we have brought in to mix with the players that we have, and to get a good dressing room.